Dick, Bugs, Bugsy, Richard or simply “Mr. Mann,” it didn’t matter how you knew him or what you called him, it was clearly obvious last Saturday, that Dick Mann was a beloved icon to motorcycle racers all over the world.
And they came from all over to offer up their respect, their love and their admiration for a man who was truly one of the “good guys,” and without a doubt the best all-around motorcycle racer of the 20th century.
The Richmond Ramblers held a Celebration of Life for one of their own, ably emceed by another well-known California racer, author and Daytona 200 Winner Don Emde.
The Richmond Ramblers is one of the oldest AMA-affiliated clubs in the country, having been founded in 1944. Yet from their humble beginnings in what is essentially a one-room clubhouse they built themselves, the club has an amazing group of alumni, having produced national champions and world-class racers. In addition to two-time AMA national number-one Dick Mann, 1982 World 500cc Motocross Champion Brad Lackey honed his early skills as a Richmond Rambler.
Mann came from humble beginnings, starting with a Cushman scooter he used to deliver newspapers, and worked his way up from there. The rest, as they say, is history, and a lot of that history was recounted on this afternoon, as racers both past and present came to pay their respects and homage to the man they called “Bugsy.”
Bugsy was the first rider (and national champion) to win the “Grand Slam” with wins in road racing, TT, short track, mile and half-mile. Since then only three people have accomplished it: Kenny Roberts, Bubba Shobert and Doug Chandler.
Mann was an icon, and a great example to literally hundreds of both new and up-and-coming riders, as well as many of his established competitors.
People like TT star Eddie Mulder, current racer Ben Bostrom, “King” Kenny Roberts, Jimmy Odom, Dan Haaby, Brad Lackey and others came to the stage, sometimes tearfully, to recount funny, or fond memories of races or conversations with their friend. Their respect was deep and heartfelt. And it was good to see so many championship-class riders of that era come to share their memories, because we are losing the stars of one of the greatest eras of American motorcycling. With names like Skip Van Leeuwen, Gene Romero and Digger Helm all taking leave of us in recent years, some well before their time!
To say the event attracted many would be a gross understatement, as nearly a thousand people showed up to honor Mann. A barbeque luncheon was served to all of the attendees, and World Champion Brad Lackey personally donated 1000 commemorative t-shirts to distribute to all of the attendees. Emcee Emde and others read letters from fellow racers like Dave Aldana, Mert Lawwill and others, recounting stories about Bugsy. Most remember Bugsy as someone whose simple but intelligent common sense and experienced judgement was worth listening to!
Richard Scott Mann was truly one-of-a-kind and Saturday was a tribute we suspect he would have appreciated and enjoyed. R.I.P. Bugsy!
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